《靈寶領教濟度金書》Vol. 33

The "Ritual of Breaking Open Hell" (Poyu Yi) recorded in Part 6 of Volume 33 of the Lingbao Lingjiao Jidu Jinshu is a crucial Daoist ceremony for the salvation of departed souls. This passage depicts the solemn scene where the ritual master opens the gates of hell for these souls.

At the ceremony's commencement, the master stands reverently in the Hall of Silent Contemplation, first chanting the Huaxia Hymn to guide participants before the Great Dao. Kneeling in deep prostration, the master then declares: "This humble servant (the master refers to himself as 'chen') trembles with awe as I kowtow and present this petition to the Celestial Worthy (Tianshi, the supreme Daoist deity). Though insignificant by nature, I have received the Mandate of Heaven to uphold the teachings, never forgetting the luminous scrutiny of the divine that shines bright as the sun. Today, the patron (zhai zhu) has established this purification ritual (zhaijiao) to liberate departed souls—including those suffering in the Six Caverns of Luofeng (a Daoist hell) and the Nine Dark Springs (the depths of hell).

"These souls remain trapped behind grim iron walls and bronze gates, unable to attain liberation through countless kalpas. Without the Celestial Worthy's radiant wisdom, how could such darkness be dispelled? Without the Celestial Worthy's mighty divine power, how could their shackles be shattered and the gates of hell opened? Thus, I earnestly beseech the Celestial Worthy to descend in radiance, granting the staff that breaks open hell, so I may summon the deities according to liturgy (keyi) and deliver these souls—lifting all suffering spirits to the boundless divine realm (an ideal Daoist paradise)."

The text describes the Celestial Worthy's wisdom illuminating the Nine Dark Hells like the sun, with golden light and jade radiance (emanating from between his brows) swirling to brighten the pitch-black hells. Frozen courts of suffering grow warm as springtime shores. The master further implores the Celestial Worthy to use this luminous wisdom to dismantle Fengdu City's (the capital of hell) iron barriers, destroy the Sword Trees (torture devices), and universally deliver all souls from eternal darkness.

Finally, holding ritual candles (fu zhu) lit before the Celestial Worthy's image, the master distributes this sacred light and reverently performs the hell-breaking ceremony according to liturgical protocols. Seated upon a lion throne, the Celestial Worthy emanates resplendent radiance that illuminates the entire Heaven of Yudan (one of Daoism's Thirty-Six Heavens).

This scripture passage depicts a Daoist ritual for the salvation of departed souls, divided into three main sections:

The first section portrays a vision of divine radiance: Jade-white light flows like rainbows illuminating the day, while purple-golden hues harmonize with the rising sun. This sacred luminosity penetrates the nine layers of hell (Jiulei) to liberate imprisoned souls and halts judgment in the three wretched realms (Santu). The ritual master stands to the left holding a ritual candle (Fulu), invoking this celestial light to brighten the underworld.

The second section describes the majestic power of the Celestial Worthy (Tianshi, highest Daoist deity): His compassionate energy softens even the Iron Encircling Mountains (hell's domain), where souls are trapped in karmic webs. When the master raises his ritual staff (Ce Zhang), hell's gates open where it points - mountains of blades transform into cooling shade, and swords into trees of mercy, freeing trapped souls. The master prays for the Celestial Worthy's power to dismantle Mount Luofeng (Daoist hell), erasing souls' karmic records for ascension.

The final section details the salvation ritual: The master leads a ceremonial procession to the altar, offering incense to the Most High Savior Celestial Worthy of the Eastern Paradise. They praise this "Compassionate Father of the Nine Darknesses" who descends from the Violet Void on a seven-jeweled lotus throne, showering the nine springs (underworld) with nectar and spiritual light to open the path of rebirth. The ceremony concludes with devotion to the "Limitless Great Dao" (Wuji Dadao), embodying Daoism's core belief in saving souls through sacred ritual.

This scripture describes a Daoist zhaijiao (purification ritual) performed to liberate departed souls. The ritual master, through lighting lamps and reciting incantations, invokes various deities to help souls escape the suffering of the underworld.

At the ritual’s commencement, the master expresses compassion for souls trapped in the cycle of suffering across the ten directions (a cosmic concept shared by Buddhism and Daoism), seeking to dissolve their accumulated karmic burdens over lifetimes. The master establishes an altar on behalf of the patron (the sponsor of the ritual) to liberate a specific deceased individual and all their kin in the dark realms, ensuring that souls lost in the shadowy ghostly domains may attain salvation.

The text depicts the underworld’s torments: souls confined behind impenetrable walls of bronze and iron, dwelling in perpetual darkness. The master beseeches the celestial might of the Heavenly Venerables (honorific titles for Daoism’s highest deities) to shake the underworld, enabling the souls’ liberation. With deep devotion, he invokes the Great Benevolent Savior of Suffering (a deity specifically tasked with redeeming souls) and other divine beings to manifest their radiant golden-purple forms, showering sweet dew between the mortal world and hell—opening auspicious gates for the living while sealing the doors of suffering for the dead.

The ritual’s core involves lighting the "Nine Netherworld Divine Lamps" while reciting the incantation: "The Nine Netherworlds lie in endless darkness; souls remain unliberated. May these divine lamps illuminate the underworld, guiding seven generations of ancestors (qixuan) to ascend to the Southern Palace (a celestial paradise), enabling souls to attain immortality through the Dao." Simultaneously, the master burns fulu (talismans and ritual documents), sincerely petitioning the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (one of the Three Pure Ones, Daoism’s highest deities) and other divine beings to descend.

Finally, the text enumerates the deities participating in the ritual, including the Three Pure Ones, the Five Thearchs of the Directions, and the Great Emperor of Fengdu (ruler of the underworld). It explains how, at the cosmos’ dawn, primordial qi divided, assigning each deity their sacred role, while humans—imbued with the essence of heaven and earth—possess innate spiritual nature. The entire ritual exemplifies Daoist religious practice, where sacred ceremonies bridge heaven and earth to deliver souls from suffering.

This scripture describes a Daoist ritual for the salvation of wandering souls. The core teaching conveys:

Human nature is originally pure and luminous (lingguan refers to one's innate nature), yet becomes obscured by worldly temptations (the "six dusts" denote sensory allurements of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and thought; the "five thieves" represent desires arising from eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and body). Consequently, souls fall into the shadowy realms (yehuo and hanting symbolize the underworld), enduring darkness and suffering.

Out of compassion, the Celestial Worthy (Shangdi) employs the Golden Register (Jinlu, an important Daoist scripture) and jade talismans (ritual implements) for salvation. The ceremony involves lighting lamps (randeng), symbolizing the dispelling of infernal darkness through divine radiance. The ritual patron (zhaizhu) establishes purification rites to liberate the deceased, seeking deliverance for all suffering souls in the netherworld ("the afflicted in the ten directions" and "prisoners of the nine layers" refer to various classes of damned souls).

The text enumerates multiple hell realms: the Wind-Thunder Hell of the East, the Fiery Screen Hell of the South (representing the eight directional hells), the Central Torture Hell, along with the Eighteen Major Hells and Twenty-Four Great Hells of the Northern Darkness (constituting Daoism's multi-tiered underworld system). Final supplications address the Three Officials (Tian-guan, Di-guan, Shui-guan) and Nine Infernal Bureaus (administrative divisions of the underworld), beseeching merciful pardon for the souls' transgressions.

Through incense offerings, scripture recitation, and talismanic rites (such as the "Opening the Netherworld Talisman"), the ceremony invokes deities like the Salvation-from-Nine-Darkness Celestial Worthy to release souls from infernal torment and grant them transcendence.

This scripture describes a Daoist ritual for the salvation of departed souls, structured in three main sections:

The first section depicts the cosmic order and the structure of the underworld. Heaven and earth occupy fixed positions in a hierarchy of reverence, with the interplay of Yin-Yang giving rise to all phenomena. The Azure Canopy (Biluo, the Daoist celestial realm) serves as the abode of immortals and sages, while the Yellow Springs (Huangquan, the netherworld) house spirits and deities. Though humans possess the greatest spiritual intelligence, they often become entangled in the Three Delusions (greed, hatred, and ignorance) and Seven Emotions (joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, aversion, and desire), causing souls to sink into the underworld. Places like Mount Luofeng (a Daoist hell) and the Spring Winding (Quanqu, the underworld court) establish judicial systems that mete out judgments based on one's virtuous or wicked deeds in life.

The second section recounts the compassionate salvation offered by Daoist deities. The Nine Layers of Earth (Jiulei) correspond to the Ninefold Darkness (Jiuyou) of the underworld, while the Three Paths (the realms of hell-dwellers, hungry ghosts, and beasts) manifest three types of karmic retribution. Yet even within these hells, the torments of water and fire, Yin and Yang, carry an instructive purpose. Through the power of Phoenix Seal Script (Fengzhuan, Daoist talismans) and Dragon Script (Longzhang, sacred scriptures), the darkness of hell can be illuminated to liberate the souls of the departed.

The final section details the specific rites of salvation. The ritual sponsor (Zhaizhu) holds a Zhaijiao (purification ceremony) for deceased relatives, invoking deities such as the Heavenly Worthy Who Extracts from the Ninefold Darkness (a divinity specializing in soul redemption). During the ritual, numerous Hell-Breaking Divine Officials (spiritual functionaries tasked with opening the hells) are summoned—figures like the Talisman Officer Wang Qing, Hell-Breaker of Purity, and the Azure Mystery Hell-Breaking Official. Wielding golden talismans (Daoist ritual implements), they shatter the iron prisons, unseal the gates of hell, and deliver souls trapped in the Northern Capital Luofeng and the River Spring Winding.

The entire ceremony embodies the Daoist ideal of "universal salvation for all beings." Through sacred power, it breaks the boundaries between realms, liberating souls from suffering and enabling their ascent to the immortal paradise.

In the Nine Netherworlds (the Daoist underworld) with its Six Caverns and Ten Palaces, and the nine layers of hell, departed souls have long been imprisoned. Now, by the decree of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning from the Jade Pure Realm (the highest Daoist heaven), all barriers shall be broken to release these souls, granting them freedom to attend this sacred assembly and ascend to the realms of immortals. We solemnly declare the use of the Jade Pure Prison-Breaking Talisman, the Azure Mystery Prison-Breaking Talisman, and the Primordial Sovereign Prison-Breaking Talisman.

The Daoist priests recite the Scripture of Salvation from Suffering once, while the presiding high priest (the master of ceremonies) follows the liturgical procedures, summoning divine power and chanting incantations. He proclaims the transformation of the ten celestial talismans and burns the "Destroying Chains and Opening Gates Talisman." At this moment, the Heavenly Worthy Who Extracts Sins from the Nine Netherworlds (a deity dedicated to saving souls from hell) begins his divine inspection, first arriving in the East.

In the eastern Zhen Palace (one of the Eight Trigrams) of the Nine Netherworlds lies a dark realm called the Prison of Wind and Thunder, where the condemned are tormented by flying spears and drifting halberds. Now, the patron (the sponsor of the ritual) has established a Zhaijiao (Daoist purification ritual) to deliver the deceased, lighting the Nine Prisons Divine Lamps in accordance with the Lingbao Liturgy (Daoist ceremonial norms). They take refuge in the Eastern Jade Treasure Celestial Sovereign of Salvation from Suffering, who manifests from the Qingwei Heaven (a Daoist celestial realm). They beseech the Celestial Sovereign to wield his divine power to shatter the eastern prison, illuminating it with sacred light to abolish cruel punishments and filling it with the Dao’s Qi (primordial energy) to awaken the souls to their true nature. May the departed attain the six supernatural powers, absolve all sins, and ascend to the heavens. Through these merits, the souls are delivered. The faithful devotees sincerely take refuge and chant hymns:

"Reverently we invoke the Eastern Sovereign, the Jade Treasure Celestial Worthy, to descend into the Prison of Wind and Thunder, rescue the souls of the Nine Netherworlds, and deliver them to the realm of immortals." Then, the Eastern Prison-Breaking Talisman is proclaimed.

A verse describes:

The eastern dark prison is named the Prison of Wind and Thunder,

Its majesty shines through the nine heavens.

Lost in evil karma (a Buddhist concept referring to the consequences of wrongdoing),

They were trapped by worldly delusions.

Now the Celestial Worthy’s decree spreads boundless grace,

Emptying the dungeons, the Emperor’s mercy rains down.

Primordial ancestral Qi (source energy) and true light guide the souls,

Free to roam the sacred groves of the immortal realm.

Next, the Heavenly Worthy Who Extracts Sins from the Nine Netherworlds proceeds to the South. In the southern Li Palace (one of the Eight Trigrams) of the Nine Netherworlds lies a shadowy domain called the Prison of Blazing Fire, where the condemned are scorched by raging flames. The patron similarly establishes a Zhaijiao to deliver the souls, lighting the Nine Prisons Divine Lamps in accordance with the Lingbao Liturgy, taking refuge in the Southern Mysterious Perfection Myriad Blessings Celestial Worthy of Salvation from Suffering. They beseech the Celestial Worthy to wield his divine power to shatter the southern prison. Auspicious smoke rises... (The subsequent southern prison-breaking ritual follows a similar pattern to the eastern one.)

This passage describes the Daoist "Hell Liberation" ritual (破狱), which focuses on delivering deceased souls from the torments of hell through ceremonial practices. Here's a section-by-section explanation:

The Southern Fire Hell section:

The southern hell is filled with raging flames. Here, practitioners invoke the "Mystically True Lord of Ten Thousand Blessings" (玄真万福尊) to descend into the fiery hell, using cool nectar to extinguish the flames, thereby dissolving the deceased's negative karma and resolving karmic debts. Through lighting sacred lamps and reciting scriptures, the ritual harnesses the virtuous power of the Celestial Worthy (天尊, high-ranking Daoist deities) to guide souls upward to the immortal realms. The mentioned "Southern Hell-Breaking Talisman" (南方破狱符) is a specialized Fulu (符箓) designed to dismantle the fire hell, depicting the ruler of this hell who controls celestial mechanisms and commands infernal flames.

The Western Diamond Hell section:

The western hell, called the Diamond Hell (金刚狱), tortures sinners with iron hammers and clubs. The ritual patron (斋主) establishes a Zhaijiao (斋醮, Daoist ceremony) following the Lingbao liturgy (灵宝科仪), lighting nine hell-liberating lamps while supplicating the "Supremely Marvelous Celestial Worthy" (太妙至极天尊) to dismantle the Diamond Hell. The scripture states that the light of wisdom can restore the souls' original nature and resolve countless grievances. The "Western Hell-Breaking Talisman" here portrays the terrifying scenes of the Diamond Hell and the Celestial Worthy using jade commands and golden talismans to guide the souls.

The Northern Frozen Abyss Hell section:

The northern hell, named the Frozen Abyss Hell (溟泠狱), is filled with icy blades and frost. Similar ceremonies are performed following the Lingbao liturgy to deliver souls. Though not elaborated here, its structure parallels previous sections—presumably employing corresponding Celestial Worthy's power to break the frozen hell's torments.

The ritual's core lies in using specific Fulu (符箓), lamp ceremonies, and hymns to harness the divine power of directional Celestial Worthies, dismantling various hellish punishments and guiding souls from suffering to celestial ascension. Each directional hell has corresponding Celestial Worthies, talismans, and hymns, forming a complete salvation system.

This passage depicts the Daoist "Prison-Breaking" (破狱) ritual, which describes the process of liberating deceased souls through lighting the Nine Prison Deity Lamps and reciting scriptures to invoke divine beings.

The ceremony begins by invoking the Heavenly Worthy of Universal Salvation (救苦天尊) of the northern direction—a revered Daoist deity who oversees the salvation of wandering souls—to beseech his divine power to break open the northern Kan-position prison (one of the nine hells in Daoist cosmology, corresponding to the eight trigrams). May the Heavenly Worthy's Dharma-power dissolve the frigid torments of hell like auspicious clouds and Dharma-rain, severing the roots of karma and purging defilements, so the souls may ascend from the underworld of the north to the Southern Palace (南宫, the celestial abode of immortals). This merit is then dedicated to the liberation of the deceased.

Next, the northern prison-breaking incantation (破狱符咒) is recited, depicting the scenes of the Freezing Abyss Hell (溟泠地狱) in the north: myriad layers of walls encircle the Kan position (the northern trigram), where souls suffer in yin-cold torment. Through symbols like the golden rooster heralding dawn and the jade rabbit (symbolizing the moon) rising, the scripture portrays the Heavenly Worthy guiding souls upward to the Yu-Dan Heaven (郁单天界, one of the Thirty-Six Heavens in Daoism).

The ritual then shifts to the northeastern Gen-position hell, where the Cauldron Boiling Hell (镬汤狱) awaits, its victims seething in toxic flames. By lighting the Nine Prison Deity Lamps and taking refuge in the Heavenly Worthy of Salvation in the northeast, the officiant prays for compassionate light to elevate these souls, freeing them from the black earth (symbolizing hell) to ascend the path of immortality. The northeastern prison-breaking incantation describes this hell's cruel torments and the Heavenly Worthy's deliverance through merciful rain that dispels karmic winds.

Finally, the ritual turns to the southeastern Xun-position hell, home to the Bronze Pillar Hell (铜柱狱), where souls are forced to embrace scorching metal pillars. This section illustrates the Daoist belief in systematically dismantling the hells of each direction through sacred liturgy, invoking the Heavenly Worthies' majestic power to liberate souls. Each cardinal direction has its corresponding Heavenly Worthy, distinct hellscape, and prison-breaking incantation, forming a comprehensive system of salvation.

The entire process reflects the Daoist soteriological framework, where ritual precision and divine intervention combine to break the karmic bonds of the deceased, guiding them from infernal suffering to celestial liberation.

This passage describes the scene of a Daoist "Prison-Breaking" salvation ritual (破狱). The patron (斋主) who commissioned the ceremony follows the Lingbao liturgy (灵宝科仪) to light nine hell-lamps, invoking the Celestial Worthy to shatter the underworld prisons and liberate trapped souls.

At the southeast Bronze Pillar Hell (铜柱地狱, one of the eight major hells associated with the Xun wind trigram), the patron beseeches the Savior from Suffering Celestial Worthy (救苦天尊) to dismantle the infernal torture with divine power. The morning breeze dispels scorching agonies, freeing souls from torment. Through the trials of the "Three Paths" (三途: hell realm, hungry ghost realm, animal realm) and aided by the "Six Perfections" (六度: charity, precepts, etc.), the spirits ascend. The hymn describes the Celestial Worthy descending to the bronze pillars, guiding souls with nectar of compassion and celestial winds toward the jade-green mists of immortality.

The ritual then shifts southwest to the Flaying Hell (屠割地狱, associated with the Kun earth trigram), where sinners endure blade punishments. Here the patron invokes the Supreme Numinous Void Sovereign (太灵虚皇天尊) to dissolve the hell's razor winds with solar radiance. Awakened to primordial emptiness, souls shed karmic obstructions to dwell in the Jasper Pool paradise, receiving immortal registers at Golden Flower Mountain (金华山). The hymn recounts how the Worthy's mysterious talismanic decrees (符命) resolve wrongful grievances, granting souls liberation.

Through scripture recitation, lamp lighting, and talisman drawing, the ceremony employs celestial powers to dismantle infernal tortures—embodying Daoism's doctrine of universal salvation (普度众生). Each directional hell corresponds to specific deities, torments, and salvation methods, creating a comprehensive cosmic deliverance.

This passage describes the northwest and central directional rites in the Daoist "Breaking Through Hell" ceremony. The northwest corresponds to the Qian position (the Bagua's northwest sector), where the Wheel of Fire Hell torments sinners with burning punishments. The ritual patron (the host conducting the memorial service) follows the Lingbao liturgy (ritual protocols of the Lingbao tradition) to light nine hell-transforming divine lamps, beseeching the Celestial Venerable of Great Magnificence (one of the Salvation Lords) to shatter the hell realms with divine power, delivering deceased souls from the sea of flames into radiant liberation.

The central direction corresponds to the Earth Sovereign's Hell, where sinners endure punishments of blade mountains and sword forests. Through lighting the nine hell-transforming lamps, practitioners invoke the Luminous Sovereign Celestial Venerable of Jade Emptiness (another Salvation Lord) to dissolve cruel torments with compassionate clouds and dharma rain, enabling souls to escape the underworld's Yellow Springs and ascend to the Mystic Altar (sacred Daoist sites) for deliverance.

The ceremony involves reciting specific incantations (such as "We supplicate the Northwest Lord, Boundless Great Magnificence") and burning hell-breaking fulu (empowered talismanic documents). These talismans bridge yin and yang realms, harnessing the "Primordial Qi's True Light" (Daoism's innate cosmic energy) to guide souls toward the "Luminous Realm of Truth" (radiant sacred dimensions) for free rebirth in celestial realms. The Nine Darknesses Sin-Extracting Celestial Venerable (specialized in hell realm salvation) traverses each directional sector during the ritual, ultimately standing before the lamps to complete the deliverance.

This scripture describes the Daoist "Breaking the Hells" ritual, depicting the descent of the Heavenly Worthy Who Extracts from the Nine Darknesses (a Daoist deity specialized in delivering souls from suffering) to rescue the deceased from the underworld.

First, it portrays the terrifying landscape of the Nine Darknesses Hells: in the northern Mount Luofeng (the Daoist conception of the underworld), there exist twenty-four and thirty-six hells, among countless others, where mortals fall due to their accumulated sins. Now, a patron (the sponsor of the ritual) establishes a purification ceremony (Zhaijiao) to beseech the deliverance of these lost souls.

Next, the scripture describes the Heavenly Worthy manifesting his divine power to shatter the hells: auspicious winds disperse the torment of punishment, while the Primordial Qi (the original vital energy) restores the souls to their innate clarity. The redeemed souls are then granted an audience at the Golden Palace (the celestial court) to receive their documents of liberation, ascending to the realm of Jade Purity (one of the highest Daoist heavens). This merit is dedicated to the salvation of the deceased.

The presiding priest (the Daoist officiant) then holds a water basin and recites incantations, embodying the Heavenly Worthy Who Relieves Suffering (a deity devoted to alleviating torment). With boundless compassion, his radiance illuminates the darkness of the Nine Darknesses Hells. The ox-headed jailers (infernal guardians) and the suffering souls alike are liberated—punishments cease, and all ascend to the celestial realms.

Finally, the priest retrieves the "Breaking Fengdu Talisman" (a specialized charm for dismantling the underworld) and pairs it with the "Returning Light Talisman," burning them within the hells while sprinkling purified water in a cleansing circuit. He recites the "Jade Purity Breaking Fengdu Incantation" three times, invoking the infinite radiance of the Heavenly Worthy of Numinous Treasure (one of the Three Pure Ones, the highest Daoist deities) to illuminate the infernal fire-ponds, ensuring the souls' transcendence.

This scripture describes a zhaijiao (purification ritual) ceremony for the salvation of departed souls. During the ritual, the Daoist priest wields a ceremonial staff symbolizing divine authority and kindles lamps to help the deceased repent their sins, beseeching celestial grace to illuminate the underworld.

At the ceremony's commencement, the priest petitions the Celestial Worthy (supreme deity of Daoism): "May the departed souls escape darkness and attain illumination; may the frigid underworld be restored to vitality." The priest prays that all wandering spirits might seize this opportunity to comprehend the true essence of the Dao, cleanse their transgressions, achieve the sublime state where form and spirit (shen) become wondrously unified, and thereby obtain the natural blessings of effortless liberation.

With utmost reverence, the priest bows before the Primordial Celestial Worthy (foremost among the Three Pure Ones/Sanqing), offering incense while humbly declaring: "I recognize the Heavenly Emperor's virtue (de) of cherishing life, yet mortals persistently tread toward death. Now, through divine power, we open the gates of hell—commanding underworld officials to obey—that suffering souls may cross the sea of sorrow and ascend to immortal realms. This is accomplished not through my own ability, but solely by the Heavenly Emperor's boundless compassion."

Concluding the rite, the priest kneels once more in gratitude, respectfully presents the ceremonial staff, and withdraws to the Hall of Silent Cultivation (the priest's meditation space during rituals). This passage originates from the thirty-third volume of the Lingbao Lingjiao Jidu Jinshu (Numinous Treasure Scripture for Universal Salvation), which meticulously documents Daoist liturgical procedures for redeeming the departed.